If a skater with a free skate like that wins the Olympics, there has to be something wrong with the judging system.

It was bad, no doubt (for Yu Na). But I would be much more upset if Rachael won.

Besides Rachael's strong jumping, when she's on, she's pretty average. I used to consider her musical but I'm not really seeing it now. Also... she always has an unconditioned look, like she still has her baby fat. Clearly she is conditioned, but you don't see the muscles in her legs.

It was good to see Julya and Elena Glebova turn in good FPs. Julya is like another skater this year. The pony tail helps!

Oh please, a large number of GOEs are given out pretty much based on reputation. Yuna's spins and spirals are mediocre at best, I mean sure they're fast but her positions are DEFINITELY not the prettiest.

Reputation is part of it, yes. No doubt about that. But what Yuna does (and also Miki) is that she maximizes her GOEs and levels by doing specifically what the judges want her to do - holding positions for a certain time length, changing edges. etc. etc. These things are listed somewhere but can't find them right now.

It was bad, no doubt (for Yu Na). But I would be much more upset if Rachael won.

Besides Rachael's strong jumping, when she's on, she's pretty average. I used to consider her musical but I'm not really seeing it now. Also... she always has an unconditioned look, like she still has her baby fat. Clearly she is conditioned, but you don't see the muscles in her legs.

It was good to see Julya and Elena Glebova turn in good FPs. Julya is like another skater this year. The pony tail helps!

Even i don't like the Yu Na hype. I do agree she's way above Flat's level. Flat is very average in all aspects. Her jumps are not of high quality either.

Wait...... Rachael, when did she stop flutzing? And what the heck is going on with her spins not counting? I believe this is the second time this has happened. It is a problem of composition or a brain-farting in the competition?

Wait...... Rachael, when did she stop flutzing? And what the heck is going on with her spins not counting? I believe this is the second time this has happened. It is a problem of composition or a brain-farting in the competition?

Sure her takeoff isn't characteristic of a regular lutz but she doesn't flutz anymore, you can tell when you're watching it on TV.

It was bad, no doubt (for Yu Na). But I would be much more upset if Rachael won.

Besides Rachael's strong jumping, when she's on, she's pretty average. I used to consider her musical but I'm not really seeing it now. Also... she always has an unconditioned look, like she still has her baby fat. Clearly she is conditioned, but you don't see the muscles in her legs.

It was good to see Julya and Elena Glebova turn in good FPs. Julya is like another skater this year. The pony tail helps!

i enjoyed Rachael's jump, but overall performance was a bit boring, she looked slow to me, then it is me. hopefully she will improve her speed and presentation in coming months

God, this sport is disgusting. Didn't Jennifer Kirk's expose about eating disorders in the sport finally put a stop to thinking like this? Guess not.

There is such a double standard-- its usually overlooked when someone comments on how fit men are, but its taboo to comment on women. I'm a girl and I think thats complete BS. Athletes put themselves out there, and to comment on their physique in terms of conditioning/fitness is completely reasonable if not inevitable. Do we have to keep euphemizing with beat-around-the-bush statements like 'long lines'? No one was commenting about eating disorders. And to be honest, I agree with Spun Silver.

Sure her takeoff isn't characteristic of a regular lutz but she doesn't flutz anymore, you can tell when you're watching it on TV.

I also think Rachael is starting to gain some of that "reputation" from the judges for sure. Good for her. She's done well at worlds last year. Her lutz isn't the most obvious outside takeoff edge, but the judges now are accepting it. Other skaters with similar takeoffs would probably get penalized though...